Parking lock mechanism for a transmission and transmission incorporating such a parking lock mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to a parking lock mechanism ( 2 ) for a transmission ( 1 ), comprising a pawl ( 4 ), which can pivot from a neutral position into a locking position in which the transmission ( 1 ) is locked, whereby the pawl ( 4 ) is prestressed in the neutral position by way of a spring element. According to the invention, the spring element is a leaf spring ( 14 ). The present invention furthermore relates to a transmission ( 1 ) incorporating such a parking lock mechanism ( 2 ).

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A parking lock mechanism, for a transmission, comprising:
 a pawl ( 4 ) which is pivotable from a neutral position into a locking position in which the transmission is locked; and   a leaf spring ( 14 ) for biasing the pawl ( 4 ) in the neutral position.   
     
     
         18 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein the leaf spring ( 14 ) is attached to a housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
         19 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 18 , wherein the leaf spring ( 14 ) is attached to the housing ( 3 ) in a form-fit manner. 
     
     
         20 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 18 , wherein the leaf spring ( 14 ) has an arched end ( 15 ) which is inserted into a correspondingly arched cavity ( 11 ) in the housing ( 3 ) for attaching the leaf spring ( 14 ) to the housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
         21 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein the leaf spring ( 14 ) has a free end ( 16 ) which communicates with and influences the pawl ( 4 ). 
     
     
         22 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 21 , wherein the pawl ( 4 ) has a protrusion ( 10 ) which communicates with and is influenced by a free end ( 16 ) of the leaf spring ( 14 ). 
     
     
         23 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 22 , wherein the protrusion ( 10 ) is configured such that the free end ( 16 ) of the leaf spring ( 14 ) always communicates with the protrusion ( 10 ) at one of a point and along a line regardless of a pivot position of the pawl ( 4 ). 
     
     
         24 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 22 , wherein the protrusion ( 10 ) has a cross-section having a shape of a segment of a circle. 
     
     
         25 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein the leaf spring ( 14 ) is supported by the housing ( 3 ) and, on one side ( 17 ) thereof, engages with the pawl ( 4 ) and, on another side ( 19 ) thereof, engages with a stop ( 18 ) of the housing ( 3 ) such that the pawl ( 4 ) is prestressed into a neutral position. 
     
     
         26 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the stop ( 18 ) is provided on and is integral with the housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
         27 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein a parking lock gear wheel ( 7 ) is non-rotatably connected to a output shaft of the transmission and, when in a locked position, engages the pawl ( 4 ). 
     
     
         28 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 27 , wherein a free end ( 16 ) of the leaf spring ( 14 ) communicates with a side of the pawl ( 4 ) facing the parking lock gear wheel ( 7 ). 
     
     
         29 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 27 , wherein the pawl ( 4 ) pivots about an axis of rotation ( 5 ) which is parallel to the output shaft of the transmission to be locked. 
     
     
         30 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 29 , wherein the axis of rotation ( 5 ) of the pawl ( 4 ) is located on the housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
         31 . The parking lock mechanism according to  claim 29 , wherein the pawl ( 4 ) is operated in an axial direction in relation to the axis of rotation ( 5 ). 
     
     
         32 . A transmission having and a parking lock mechanism, and the parking lock mechanism comprises:
 a pawl ( 4 ) which is pivotable from a neutral position into a locking position in which the transmission is locked; and   a leaf spring ( 14 ) for biasing the pawl ( 4 ) in the neutral position.   
     
     
         33 . A parking lock mechanism, for a transmission, comprising:
 a pawl ( 4 ) being pivotable, between a neutral position and a locked position, about an axis of rotation ( 5 ) that is fixed to a housing ( 3 ), and the pawl ( 4 ) having a tooth ( 6 ) that engages a detent cavity ( 9 ) of a parking lock gear wheel ( 7 ), when in the locked position, to lock the transmission;   a leaf spring ( 14 ) having a first end ( 15 ), fixed to the housing ( 3 ), and an opposed free end ( 16 ) that extends to and communicates with a projection ( 10 ) of the pawl ( 4 ) such that the leaf spring ( 14 ) biases the pawl ( 4 ) toward the neutral position; and   an operating element ( 20 ) being capable of communicating with the pawl ( 4 ) to bias the pawl ( 4 ), against a force of the leaf spring ( 14 ), such that the tooth ( 6 ) of the pawl ( 4 ) engages the detent cavity ( 9 ) of the parking lock gear wheel ( 7 ) when the pawl ( 4 ) is in the locked position.